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Ex-Wahoo (Nebraska) police officer twice avoided arrest on sexual abuse allegations
https://omaha.com/news/state-and-regional/crime-and-courts/ex-wahoo-police-officer-twice-avoided-arrest-on-sexual-abuse-allegations/article_0975a45a-2dbc-11ec-b21b-673ab6fb3c94.htmlThe girl was 6 years old when she first told child advocacy workers that she had suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a Wahoo police officer. Yet Sean Vilmont was not arrested.
She reported worsening abuse, in 2017, at age 9. Again, Vilmont was not arrested. He remained a Wahoo police officer and was even promoted to lieutenant and second-in-command in July 2019. The girl said the inappropriate touching continued.
It was only when she reported the sexual abuse a third time — in January, when she was 13 years old — and with different law enforcement agencies assigned to the case that her disclosure resulted in an arrest and charges.
(snip)
Dodge County Attorney Paul Vaughan said the cases in 2015 and 2017 were handled by two different attorneys who no longer work in the office. Vaughan declined to name those attorneys or provide additional details but said records noted that the attorneys “didn’t believe there was adequate evidence to file the charges.”
She reported worsening abuse, in 2017, at age 9. Again, Vilmont was not arrested. He remained a Wahoo police officer and was even promoted to lieutenant and second-in-command in July 2019. The girl said the inappropriate touching continued.
It was only when she reported the sexual abuse a third time — in January, when she was 13 years old — and with different law enforcement agencies assigned to the case that her disclosure resulted in an arrest and charges.
(snip)
Dodge County Attorney Paul Vaughan said the cases in 2015 and 2017 were handled by two different attorneys who no longer work in the office. Vaughan declined to name those attorneys or provide additional details but said records noted that the attorneys “didn’t believe there was adequate evidence to file the charges.”